Before I came to Korea, I knew that education here was taken seriously. Korean students are known globally for their strong academic performance and competitive university entrance exams. But witnessing the intensity of studying firsthand was something I wasn’t fully prepared for.
It started during my first semester. I would stay on campus after class to finish some homework or prepare for a group project. Around 9 or 10 p.m., I would start packing up to go home, thinking I was already putting in a solid amount of study time. But as I walked through the library on my way out, I noticed something odd: no one else was leaving.
Students were deeply focused on typing notes, solving equations, or reading thick textbooks. Some had extra clothes with them, others were sipping convenience store coffee. I even saw students resting their heads for a 15-minute power nap before continuing. At first, I thought maybe a big midterm was coming. But week after week, it was the same.
Out of curiosity, I asked a Korean friend, “Is there an exam tomorrow?”
They laughed and said, “No, but it’s always better to be ahead. Everyone is trying to survive this semester.”
That phrase stuck with me: “trying to survive.”
A Culture of Silent Motivation
Korea has a concept called 열공 (yeol-gong), short for 열심히 공부하다, which means “to study hard.” It’s more than just a phrase, it’s a lifestyle. Many students follow a strict routine, using time-blocking apps, planning out weekly goals, and avoiding social distractions during exam periods. And this isn’t only among top-performing students, this mindset is common and collective.
What’s surprising is that it doesn’t feel toxic in the way you might expect. Yes, it can be exhausting, but there’s also a shared energy, like everyone is in this together. It made me reflect on my own habits and time management. Back home, I would study for a few hours and consider that productive enough. But here, I began to notice how much time I actually wasted on my phone or procrastinating before starting tasks.
It wasn’t about becoming a study robot. It was about taking my goals seriously and learning how to push myself just a little bit more.
How I Changed
Slowly but surely, I began to adapt. Even my mindset toward failure changed. In Korea, students don’t always expect immediate success. They prepare for retakes, do self-reflection, and ask for feedback constantly. I learned that working hard doesn’t always mean instant results, but it creates a stronger foundation.
Now, I feel comforted when I see others studying late into the night. It reminds me that I’m not alone and that struggling is part of the process. Sometimes I still feel overwhelmed, of course. But seeing others push through helps me believe that I can too.
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